davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-11-24

A mutual improvement class of an ed
ucational nature is soon to be formed
from the most aggressive portion of Ellis.
worth young people. They will meet at
least twice a week in the evening at the
school for two-houg sessions. The work
taken up will be physics and geometry
under Messrs. Crownhart and Brewer re-
spectively. This organization is to be
sustained by voluntary assessments and
will continue during the school year.
The following now compose the class: c.
J. Brewer, G. III. Crownhart, florence
Swim, May Adams, Esther and Sadie
Goodelle, Clara Adams and Henry
Rounce. Admission to this class is free
to all who can show the proper attain
ments in the two branches named. Only
advanced work will be taken. The
methods will be mainly topical and all
recognized textbooks will be admitted
but Wentworth in geometry and Avery's
higher work in physics will be used in
the class. Knowing, as we do, the ma
terial which composes the class we proph-
esy success in work of unusually high
character.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-11-24

To the inquiry l have often received,
50 Can good. salable butter be made
without all the modern conveniences
and appliances l answer, 1t can.
Unlike the amateur butter maker of
twenty years ago, the beginner of to-
day has only to consult the numerous
farm journals to find any quantity of
advice; her difficulty will be to select
that best adapted to her facilities.
She viii find some such advice as the
following:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
fro BE CONTINUED

GETTING THE WORTH OF THE EGG.-
Blake Milwee, nativeof Anderson, says
that in one of the many little villages in
which he has at some time or other lived g,
the following came under his observa-
ton:
An old fellow living in the neighbor-
hood, who was noted for his stinginess,
came into the little village for the pur-
pose Of buying darning needle, and
brought large egg along to barter for
the needle. The the merchant consented
to exchange, and after the old fellow had
pocketed his darning needle and deposit
ed the egg on the counter he innocently
inquired of the merchant if it was not
customary to treat his customers. The
merchant was not proof against the ap-
peal for treat, and with much reluctance
reached under the counter and brought
out a bottle of choice old corn. The egg
barterer poured out tempting glass,
and after cycling it for some time in SEEM
ing meditation he looked up into the
merchants face, and with all air of COM
placent innocence said: "An egg would
20 mighty well in that, stranger" TO
see how far the old fellows presumption
would let him 60, the merchant donated
the bartered egg also. Imagine the sur
prise of the merchant when, on breaking
the egg and it having two yolks, the old
rascal claimed another darning needle.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
How He GOT TRICH,-Somepody comes

How He Cor TRICH.-Somepody comes
to me nit "a long face und asks vhas I
Carl Dunder, dot Dutchmans who make
so mooch money? Mr.. Dunder, you
vhas sooch lucky dog! You vhas shust
coming money. You pegins so poor you
doan' own your own poots, und now you
ride in your carriage! All! Fortune
vhas an eccentric jade! She smiles on
some und frowns on others. like you
to tell me how you manageit. Und I
says to him:
"My friendt, Luck vhas der oldt man
in der poorhouse. you wait for Luck
to come along und help you oudt you
wait for de county to bury you. work
hardt; spend leedle; 1 plan carefully; I
keeps oudt of bolitics, pay my debts,
shtands to my word and preaks no laws.
What you shmoke und drink pays my
taxes. What time you lose builds my
fences und shingles my houses. Gif Per-
severance dollar und he makes it two /;
elf Half-Heart dollar und he lets half
of it ship while he is waiting"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
IN CAMP ON THE CHICKAH OMINY.

The historic Chickahominy is q fork OF the
James, which rises to the northwest OF Rich
mond, flows southeasterly, and empties into
the river about half way between Richmond
and its mouth. North Of Richmond it flows
nearly east and west.
Meantime, early in May, Norfolk had been
abandoned by the Confederates Gen. Huger,
who held it with Is, 900 men, was ordered TO
the defense of Richmond. That left the
James open to Federal gunboats well up to-
ward Richmond. .. .-...
McClellan's army advanced through the
mud and rain to the bank Of the Chick
ahominy. Keyes' and Heintzelu,an's corps
crossed it with one brigade. Kearney was
on the west, at Savage station. Hooker's
division of Heintzelman's corps was stationed
to the southwark to guard White Oak Swamp
bridge. Summers, Franklin's and Fitz John
Porter's corps remained on the left or north
ern bank of the Chickahominy, with McClel-
lan's headquarters at Gaines Mill Keyes'
corps was only five miles from Richmond, and
took position at Seven Pines. In Richmond
there was CONSERVATION. A niece Of MIR.
Davis wrote to her mother: ...
"Uncle JEFF thinks we had better go to q
safer place than Richmond. He is miserable.
fear he cannot live long If he does not get
some rest and quiet"
In this state Of mind, Mr.. Davis Joined
Church. His niece writes: "Uncle JEFF was
confirmed last Tuesday In st. Pauls church.
He was baptized in the morning before
church" ...... Eil..si
It was expected that Mcclellan would take
Richmond speedily, and the Confederate
government made preparations to leave it.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
AT WASHINGTON.

Placed in command OF the army Of the
Potomac headquarters at Washington, Nc
Clellan Immediately proceeded to restore the
troops to prime fighting condition after the
disaster cS Bull Run. Any Of the peoples Of
Europe could not have believed that we were
as ignorant Of all pertaining to war as we
were when Mcclellan took command at
Washington. Gen. Barnard, his chief Of en-
eineers, tells how their corps had to con-
tend with the want. Of special engineer
service. There was no properly organized
train for conveying sappers and miners i'm
plcmcnts, intrenching tools and bridge build
ing uppurtcnances, etc. Axes were given to
the soldiers To carry for use in chopping down
trees, building roads, etc. The soldier carried
it till he rot tired end then threw it away.
Next camp hc got new one, and SO OH.
The transportation Of even the pontoon equi-
page fell on the already overburdened quar-
ternlaSter's department during the heavy
campaigning Of the Peninsula.
Mcclellan set Immediately about building
an army from the stragglers Of Bull Run and
from the recruits that poured in at the second
call. The result OF bis labors was in time the
splendid army Of the Potomac. In the judg-
1nent Of various good authorities Mcclellan
was the best organizer and equipper of an army
either side had during the war; In his
memoirs Mcclellan writes of this time of
preparations:
81 passed long days in the saddle and my
night. in the otiice-a very fatiguing life, but
one which made my power felt everywhere
and by every one"
lie felt elated too, by his call to Washing
ton. He writes at that time: "President,
cabinet and Gen. Scott all deferring to me.
By some strange operation Of magic l seem
to have become the power of the land"
Mcclellan paid particular attention to the
defenses of Washington, and in course Of
time made it a well fortified city. After the
battle of Bull Run the Confederates were ad-
vancetl dangerously near to Washington.
Centreville, little town in Virginia only
twenty miles southwest of Washington, was
regarded as the key to the capital After Bull
Run even that was abandoned, and all the
Union army went trocping pellmell into
Washington. The Confederate forces under
Beaurcgard Immediately occupied it. In
deed, Cen Joseph E. Johnston afterward ad-
vanced the Confederate lines even to Mum
sons Hill, III all air line only six miles from
Washington. For weeks the Confederate
flag lloated on Munson's Hill in plain sight Of
the marble dome Of the Capitol.
Centrcville and Manassas, both far too close
70 WnsLinrtou were the Donts MT which the
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08

defeat or the rebel army at Manassas" was
his object, and that an advance against it
should not be postponed beyond Nov. rs. "
That date came and went, the year 1851 faded
out and 1862 was ushered in, and still no
great blow was struck. In February, in o
letter to President Lincoln, the general says:
II have ever regarded our true policy as
being that of fully preparing ourselves"
February passed and still no "blow," ex-
cept Of the kind which one meets upon paper.
By March the people Of the United States
had run upa debt Of $500, 600, 900 in equipping
and preparing armies, chiefly that Of the Po-
tomac.
In the months Of inaction, too, with the vast
and constantly increasing army lying idle at
Washington. the Confederates had actually
blocked the Potomac by planting batteries on
the Virginia side of the Potomac some twenty
five miles Washington. Press end people
werc bowling for something to be done, and
President Lincoln was well nigh distracted.
Gen. Mcclellan for some time refused even
to communicate his plan Of campaign to Mr..
Lincoln. Onco the anxious president called
on the general, who sent back word that he
was Ill and could not see him. But next day
Mcclellan was dressed and out riding. To all
attempts to urge him forward he replied that
%Fas not ready. 3; ~ ~ z; ,sJs $3.50
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08


between the general and Washington. Nc
Clcllan demanded always moro troops, and
the president and his cabinet refused to let
Washington be denuded. McDowell's corps,
which had remained at Washington, was to
follow and join the army of the Potomac.
But the president did not consider that Gen.
Mcclellan had kept his agreement to leave
Washington sufficiently protected, and re-
fused to allow Mcdowell to move This
added to McClellan's irritation and mac
tion.
Fer quite six days Mcclellan had lain OH
tho Warwick with II force several times
larger'than his enemy. After that it was too
late to force the Confederate limo. April 10
Gen. D. H. Hill arrived with re-enfcrccmentS
to the Confederates, and April II Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston himself came and took command
in place of MuSruder.
April 10 Mcclellan writes that if Frank,ip's
and McCalps divisions of McDowcll's CORPS
could be sent him that he would Mt once ut
tack Gloucester Point, opposite Yorktown,
take it and storm Yorktown from the rear
and in front by land. Franklin's division
was sent tariily and did not arrive at York
town until April 20. ~ few days" after that
Mcclellan maGo u reconnaissance of Glouces-
ter Point.
Plenty Of time was taken for preparation.
1t was going to be siege OH u magnificent
plan. Scaling ladders we're made, and by
the Sd Of May everything was NEARLY"
ready.
May came, and 10! the Confederates
had evacuated Yorktown. The scientific
siege of Yorktown had come to nauSht. The
Confcderates had delayed the Federal army
monthin the swamp trenches along the War
wick line. This gave the Confederates time
to recruit, organize and drill re-enforcements,
till 1 formidable army was got together
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
ON TO RICHMOND.

Gen. Mcclellan had expected tho constant
cooperation of the navy in the campaign of
the Peninsula. Gunboats and transports
were to move up the rivers, conveying troops
and supplies, nnd lowering as protection to
the force that moved by land between the
rivers. The James river was at that time i'll
possession of tho Confederates, but the gen
eral hoped, "by rapid movements" to open
up the James river and capture Johnstons
army and Richmond before re-enforcements
could arrive from the west and south.
For some time previous the United States
navy had been engaged in watching tho Con-
Tolerate ram Merrimac at Fortress Monroe.
But the duel between the Monitor and Merri-
mac, or Hampton Roads, March 0, and the
presence Of the Monitor at tho fortress left
that point u comparatively safe base of opera
tions. Sound military critics agree that Nc
Clellan should have taken Norfolk before
starting up the Peninsula.
But no did not. lie left it, with the navy
yard in full operation and the Merrimac
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS.

May 81 Mcclellan had, on both sides of the
Chickahominy, an army Of 126,OO0. john
ston, who was well informed Of the Union
movements, resolved to attack the two Federal
corps south of tine Chickahominy, at Fair
Oaks station. Couch,s division was the ex-
treme right Of the Federal forces, and occu-
pied Fair Oaks, little railway station.
Casey's division was grouped little south
east Of Couch's, around the Seven Pines
tavern, so called because there are seven pine
trees there Between these two points the
bloodiest fighting was, and it is therefore cor
rect to mention the battle by either name.
Johnston commanded the Confederates.
The position Of the two armies will be seen
from the map. The CoIfederateS advanced
i'll three columns to the right, left and front
of the Federals. Longstreet and D. H. Hill
attacked in the front, Huger on the left and
Gustavus w. Smith on the right at Fair
Oaks.
Owing to the wretched roads it was noon
before the attack was made. Gen. Naglee's
Federal brigade was in advance on the front,
and caught the first heavy fire. He ordered
q bayonet charge to save his artillery. 1t
was given with will, and then Nagle's
and Casey's divisions fell back to Couch's
second line. Casey lost some Of his cannon.
A hot entiluding fire had cut down many Of
his men. 10 the rear Of COUGHS and Casey's
divisions were the corps commanders, keyes
and Heintzelman, with, as they faced the
south, Keyes on the right and Heintzelman on
the left
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08

ayes, yes" said the first man, athere will
soon be plenty Of wounded and dying there.
They will all be like the rooibaajes at
Bonker's Spruit. Lord, what sight that
was! But they will get the bishop, so they
won't want you. You can stop and look
after our wounded, if the roobaatjes manage
to hit any Of u.s." And he beckoned to him
to come out of the cart"
@Hullo!" said the other man, "here is bag
Of mealies. We will commander that any
how" And he took his knife and cut the
line with which the sack was fastened to the
back Of the cart, so that it fell to the ground.
"That will feed our horses for q week." he
said, with chuckle, in which the other man
Joined. 1t was pleasant to become so easily
possessed Of an unearned increment in the
shape Of bag OF mealies.
"Well, are we to let the old crow gol" said
the first man.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
THE PENINSULA.
From Fortress Monroe to Fair Oaks
battle-ground.
GEN. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.
The People Hailed Him as the Young
Napoleon"

A State of Chronic Nervousness About
the Safety Of Washington Prevent
ed Mcclellan from Being Supported
as he Wished---The Second Siege of
Yorktown---Working Slowly and
Painfully Up the Peninsula Toward
Richmond---In the Swamps---The
Chicahominy.
During the winter of1s62 London Punch re-
marked that tho American civil war was the
civilcst it ever heard Of.
In tho summer Of 1861 the north had been
crying for leader. Popular demand was
satisfied by the appointment Of Maj Cen
George Brinton Mcclellan to be commander
in chief, first Of tho army Of the Potomac,
then OF the arnaias Of Efhs whoisU United State2'
Tho first promotion came July 81, the second
Nov. /, 1861.
1t was not till the next spring, 1862, how
ever, that any fighting was done by the army
OF the Potomac. The quarter centennial time
Of that fighting has come. It finds most of
the leaders OIL both sides gone from the scene
Of oil earthly strife.
Mcclellan was not only West Pointer, but
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08

C1eu. JOuIlStOu was t6Ns w. W. oa4AA'
seriously wounded, and the command
devolved on Gustavus W. Smith. He
also was wounded, but even that did not stop
the fight. About dark. Sumner ordered q
bayonet charge of five regiments, which broke
the Confederate line, and the fight was ended
for May 81.
Richardson's brigade and the artillery had
been mired in the mud, but they came up
during the night Next morning, June l, at
o'clock, the Confederates made another at
tack. Richardson commanded ON the Fed
eral side, and was on the lookout. There
was an indecisivo fight of several hours. Gen.
o. q. Howard lost his arm here, and Gen.
Thomas F. Meagher, the patriot, fought
valiantly with his Irish brigade. On the
Confederats side Gems. Roger A. Pryor and
Malone, atterward United States senator
from Virginia, commanded the Confederates
Gen. Leo and President Jefferson Davis rode
out in carriage to see the fight from Rich
mond Of May 81.
June l the Confederate army. with its
stores ard ammunition, was being removed to
Richmond all day. Toward evening the Con-
federates under Pryor went there too. That
was the last of the Fair Oaks fighting. Each
side lost some 1000. It was a bloody fight.
In the morning Of juno 2, Hooker
made a reconnaissance toward Richmond,
but the attempt was abandoned.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
HANOVER COU# HOUSE.

Between McDowell's front at Fredericks-
burg and McClellans right before Richmond
there was force of 1900 Confederates.
They were Anderson's and Branch's brigades
and part Of Stuart's cavalry. Branch's
brigade was at Hanover Court House, four
teen miles north Of Richmond. To clear
these 1000 away, to destroy the bridges over
the South Anna and the Pamunkey, which
would keep the Confederates from getting In
the rear of the Union army from the right,
and to cut the railroad from Richmond to
Northern Virginia, Ntz John Porter Was sent
with 10 900 men. May "a, in a heavy rain,
the battle of Hanover Court House was
fought, and Porter routed the Confed-
crates. Bridges were destroyed according to
the plan, which was In other respects carried
out, except that the railroad from Richmond
to Fredericksburg was not cut. Lacking
that" wrote Lincoln to McC cClellan, ''the scrap
of the Virginia Central from Richmond to
Hanover Junction is simply nothing"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08
TO THE CHlCKAHOMlNY.

After Williamsburg, McClellan's army fol-
lowed OH toward Richmond. There were
always delays, though, sometimes from one
cause, again from another. Part Of the troops
were sent back to Yorktown, where they were
embarked on transports and sent up the York
to Elthams landing, above West Point.
Franklin's division, which had been OH land
only one day since they left Washington, near
the middle of April, was the advance at
Eltham's landing. Franklin's men had all
indecisive little encounter with the retreatng
Confederates.
It took good two weeks for the Federal
army to move from Williamsburg to White
House where the next headquarters were.
The distance travelled was forty miles, and
part of the army was now within seven miles
of Richmond. Certainly Gen. Mcclellan got
steadily nearer Richmond.
The Federal forces were concentrated be-
tween the Pamunkey AMI the Chickahominy.
The Pamunlley was the south branch Of the
York. The Chickahominy lay between the
Federal army and Richmond, just Us Gen.
Johnston meant it should. In war map Of
the situation before Richmond, published at
that time day after day in one Of the leading
newspapers Of the United States, the Chicka-
hominy river does not appear at all. The
newspaper correspondents with McClellan's
army evidently did not know there was such
stream They found it out before the sum.
mer was over.
After Williamsburg Mcclellan reported
that he had only 80 900 men. In response to
his urgent demand for more troops, Nc
Dowell's corps of Al, 900 men was ordered to
20 to him by way Of Fredericksburg. Sy
following these points constantly ON the map
the reader will get distinct idea Of the
Peninsula campaign. Mcdowell was not
under McClellans command, but led all "in-
dependent cooperating army" Gen. Shields
division was drawn from Banks force in the
Shenandoah valley, and added to McDowelrs
corps.
Mcdowell was ordered to leave Fredericks-
burg and join Mcclellan the middle Of May,
which was the time Mcclellan fixed his head
quarters at White House, on the Pamunkey.
White House was the property of Mary
Custis Lee, a great-granddaughter Of Martha
Washington, married to a son Of Gen. Robert
Z. Lee. On the site Of this building had
stood one in which Washington courted and
married the widow Custis.
Mcdowell did not get ready to march for
ten days, May &c. Then came the Stonewall
Jackson scare in the Shenandoah valley, and
once more it was all up with the plan for
joining Mcdowell to the army Of the Po-
tomac DcDowell was ordered back in
haste and commanded to send 20, 600 men at
once to the Shenandoah.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08

3 "
crumbling bones Of thousands Of as brave men
as ever shouldered q musket
A private letter written at the time de-
clares that Casey's FederaD division alone
lost $500 men from sickness during April and
May. -: -."' -|''.'-'.
There was serious difference Of opinion
about the limo Of march which should be
taken There was sort of triangle OF
authorities to be consulted in forming the
plan of campaign. One was President Lin
coin and his cabinet, another was Gen. Nc
Clellan, third was the committee Of con-
gress on the conduct of the war, Senator Ben
Wade, OF Ohio, chairman. In January, 1862,
Edwin NJ Stanton became secretary OF war,
and thereafter was a most active element in
all military affairs.
President Lincoln had one plan Of attack,
Mcclellan another. The presidents plan was
to move on the Confederates direct at Centre
vile and attack them in their stronghold.
McClellan's was to 60 down the Chesapeake
and then work up to Richmond, Va, and
capture the capital of the Confederacy before
the army at Centreville could prevent it, 1t
has not been decided to this day which plan
was the best. Either one might have been
successful if carried out quickly. AS it was,
there were delay and hanging back and argu-
ment, while weeks and months were lost.
McClellan's plan was finally adopted. But the
fact remains that from that day on Mcclellan
regarded the authorities ut Washington as his
natural enemies. In his letters during the
Peninsula campaign occur such expressions
as these:
"Those hounds at Washington are after me
again."
In these words he refers to President Lin
coin and his cabinet and the congressional
committee, including in the lump certain
military commanders. Especially he con-
ceived deadly enmity to Secretary Stanton.
March 8, 1862, the president issued bis gem
eral war order No. 8, directing the army OF
the Potomac to move down the Chesapeake.
The permission was given with the express
condition that Washington should never be
70 stripped of troops as to be endangered.
March o the Com 'ederate army evacuated
Centrevile. 1t had laiu, with $4,000 men,
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-08

never was any more chance to get behind the
Confederate army and take Richmond. Tho
opportunity was lost.
There was nothing for it now but to move
down the Chesapeake and then work up to-
ward Richmond in the face of the Confeder-
ate army Two routes were proposed, but
that adopted was McClellan's own, going to
Richmond by march up the Peninsula, be-
tween the York and the James rivers. The
line of march Is shown on our map by a
dotted line.
March II the army Of the Potomac began
their move to Fortress Monroe. They went
down the Potomac and Chesapeake bay in
transports. Twenty thousand men, largely
fresh recruits, had been left at Washington.
All the subsequent differences and unpleasant
feeling between Gen. Mcclellan and the
authorities at Washington may be summed
up in very few words: The president, secre-
tary of war and congress were unwilling to
increase Gen. McCiellan's army by the re-
endorsements lie constantly demanded be-
cause they feared 1T would leave Washington
dangerously exposed